For almost a month, North Korea has been planning the launch of its satellite, Kwangmyongsong-2, into space; a move which sparked international suspicions as to the true intentions of the procedure. According to recent U.S. satellite imagery, however, the cause for alarm has diminished with the discovery of certain characteristics belonging to the device consistent with those of a satellite — in particular a bulb-shaped tip.

A long-range missile, the Taepodong-2, which in 2006 failed to launch successfully, is what Washington and its allies feared Pyongyang was planning to test under the guise of a peaceful satellite launch; the Taepodong-2 has a predicted range of around 6,700km, ample enough to include several U.S. bases in the area as potential targets. Though the intentions of Pyongyang are perhaps more apparent following the visual confirmation, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging North Korea not to proceed with the launch of the satellite. U.S.-North Korean relations will be damaged by the decision to proceed, she warned.

North Korea has confirmed that the launch will occur between the 4th and the 8th of April, heightening tensions which were catalyzed two weeks ago with the capture of two American journalists on the China-North Korea border. The two female reporters, Chinese-American Laura Ling and Korean-American Euna Lee, were accused with illegal entry into North Korea, and have since been transported to Pyongyang to await trial; authorities in the area say that the proceedings will adhere to international law.

The image was uploaded on the website of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) earlier this week, and according to analysts the image depicts a missile with a rounded bulb-shaped tip, consistent with a satellite, as opposed to a warhead. The nature of the launch is by no means certain, however, and members of key international agencies are still aware of such a possibility:

“They probably are launching a satellite. But the issue is that the steps they’re going through to do that run parallel to them being able to have other capabilities,” — Paul Brannan, senior ISIS Analyst

Due to the uncertainty of the situation, South Korea, Japan, and the United States all plan to deploy missile-interceptor ships in the area; China has perpetually urged all nations involved to exercise restraint, a commendable suggestion following North Korean threats of a full-scale war should the United States or its allies intervene in the launch. Regardless of the missile’s nature, U.N. resolutions forbid its launch, according to the powers involved, all of whom have threatened to down the missile should it threaten their interests in the area.

All nations involved are poised to take action should the others make the first move, and China is not alone in their hopes for hesitance.

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